"Food is so plentiful in Canada that even our garbage cans are full of it." ("Waste Land," Jennifer Bain, Toronto Star, January 15, 2011)
Waste, and over wasting is a huge issue that the government is struggling to grapple with. Toronto I was most astonished to find keeps absolutely no garbage in the walls of the city. I really wanted to craft an article to argued that Toronto Should Keep Their Own Garbage In The Walls Of Their City. You explore my ideas further in a little brief I wrote when the new year rolled around, big changes in the city.
My TA at the time kept trying to tease ideas out of me, I simply couldn't argue the space issue (there simply is not any!) It's really easy to defend the social issues, but then you struggle with the monetary benefits for the recipients of the waste. So, I am a little stuck and hope to have the good opportunity to explore this further.
But something I have been really struggling to address is overbuying food. Last year, I lived with a girl who bought largely frozen food - something I am hesitant to do. I however, week after week found myself throwing out tons and tons of fresh food that didn't make my belly! Still, even more so living with my Grandpa now I find myself wasting far too much.
Bain explores some really valid points that need serious evaluation -
1. Food waste is the "Elephant in the Room," The Green bin is a guilt eraser!
She calls it the "elephant in the room" because it's something we know is there but don't know how to address. She states:
"In Ontario, there are multiple fees for everyone from manufacturers to consumers to handle the disposal of e-waste. But how do you handle that with a head of lettuce?"
2. What should we do with the waste? How do we save it before it becomes garbage?
Who has kitchen staff to transport bruised apples into apple sauce? Who can hand out yogurt before it expires? Who would best appreciate milk, coffee creamers or green energy smoothies?
These are questions that I drew from Bain's article. She claims these are problems that Second Harvest drivers face daily. Second Harvest is a brilliant service that collects unused, leftover food from restaurants, bakeries and shops. They can actually take food that is one year past their expiration date, providing it is frozen. Blayne Walker, a Second Harvest Driver states that "If you won't eat is, don't pick it up."
3. North American portions
I wish I was raised in a culture that is comfortable with small portions. I come from a family and environment that finds satisfaction in larger portions of lousy (but ever so delicious) food. She touches on a great group called Love Food Hate Waste, a campaign encouraging portioning and conscious food shopping.
I'm a little crossed on the doggie bag debate. My coworkers and I often get a sick chuckle out of what people will take home. It was less obvious at the last place because we would just toss the customers the boxes. The restaurant I work at is slightly upper class, I have to see and package everything people wish to eat later on. Bain's article harps on the good merits of doggie bagging everything. She states -
"Blame it on the "all-you-can-eat" culture that Bloom has renamed "all-you-can waste." Or the fact that asking a restaurant for a doggie bag is sometimes seen as gauche."
We do judge you that way. Sometimes packing up every little fry is tedious, but I agree with Bain's stance. However, every styrofoam container I have to use to package up every chip left is painfully hard for me. I am the first to love a leftover meal, (especially one I didn't make!) but it just gets to the point where you know people will absolutely not eat their soggy chips later on!
I wish all restaurants, including my own would use more ecofriendly containers. Another serious issue that we're all struggling with. I will touch on this in the future! Paper dishes, or green, compostable plates and cutlery are not always welcomed to the compost stream. At least I can speak for the research I've done in Toronto. Mixed up. Will feature this in the upcoming weeks!
4. Gleaning
"Gleaning is the act of collecting leftover crops from farmers' fields after they've been harvested or deemed unprofitable to harvest. Gleaners eat the free food or pass it on to those who are hungry."
Meet the Ontario Association of Food Bank's Community Harvest program - They collected 12,635 pounds of corn, potatoes, eggplants and bell peppers for the association to hand out at food banks for Thanksgiving.
Meet Not Far From the Tree - Seven hundred volunteers harvested nearly 20,000 pounds of fruit from 228 Toronto trees on private property this year. The fruit is then transported on foot (or bike) and evenly divded amongst property owners, volunteers, food banks and shelters.
I read this terrific book called Waste: Uncovering the Global Food Scandal by a British chap named Tristam Stuart. He talked about his experience dumpster diving. A concept you absolutely must dive (pun!) into.
Further reading and consideration:
American Wasteland: How America Throws Away Nearly Half of It's Food (and What We Can Do About It) by Martin Gooch
Waste: Uncovering the Global Food Scandal by Tristam Stuart
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